I have a pretty basic electrical question...I want to put an outlet in our coat closet to charge my wife's floor vacuum (i.e. swiffer sweeper, dust buster, etc.). The bathroom is on the opposite wall and has an outlet on the wall that it shares with the coat closet. Can I tap into the bathroom outlet and drop a line down the wall for the new outlet in the coat closet? Is there a better way to do this?
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installing an outlet...
- Thread starter Elite130
- Start date
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
You can do it. Just make sure you are between the same studs. You can get one of the remodeling boxes that have the wings on them. When you tighten the screw it flips the wings up so the box doesn't have to be fastened to a stud. 1 hour or so and you will be "good to go"
ddawg16
Well-known member
Putting the outlet in the closet is actually a pretty good idea....just make sure there is nothing flamable above the charger.
Technically nobody can tell you if you can do it since nobody knows your electrical system. There are rules in the electrical code that dictate how many devices you can have on one circuit, so although you can hook up a wire and add a receptacle, that doesn't necessarily mean it will meet code.
Also you need to be concerned with whether or not the bathroom receptacle is GFCI protected. It won't hurt to plug your vacuum into a GFCI receptacle of course, but if that GFCI is feeding other outlets already you may not be able to tap into the feed side of it to add another outlet without overloading the box with too many wires (again there are rules in the electrical code for wire count etc).
In theory assuming everything meets code this is a pretty easy change. Just be sure you use an old-work / reno box and that you verify there is no obstructions in that particular stud bay which could cause problems (plumbing, HVAC ducting etc).
Before cutting your hole for the new box, I suggest removing the cover plate and receptacle you want to add on to. That will give you more room to fish the wire down as well as allowing you to see what side of the stud the box is mounted to. The last thing you want is to cut a hole and find out you are on the wrong side of the stud because fishing a wire through a stud and then up to your old receptacle is much more difficult and will take a lot more time.
Also you need to be concerned with whether or not the bathroom receptacle is GFCI protected. It won't hurt to plug your vacuum into a GFCI receptacle of course, but if that GFCI is feeding other outlets already you may not be able to tap into the feed side of it to add another outlet without overloading the box with too many wires (again there are rules in the electrical code for wire count etc).
In theory assuming everything meets code this is a pretty easy change. Just be sure you use an old-work / reno box and that you verify there is no obstructions in that particular stud bay which could cause problems (plumbing, HVAC ducting etc).
Before cutting your hole for the new box, I suggest removing the cover plate and receptacle you want to add on to. That will give you more room to fish the wire down as well as allowing you to see what side of the stud the box is mounted to. The last thing you want is to cut a hole and find out you are on the wrong side of the stud because fishing a wire through a stud and then up to your old receptacle is much more difficult and will take a lot more time.
tfi racing
Well-known member
I'm surprised no one has brought up the code rule that prohibits receptacles in closets...
boiler7904
Well-known member
Do you hae an NEC reference?
I know I've been on commercial projects where outlets have been installed in small closets. We've even installed panels in closets which require a 20A outlet near the panel.
I like the OP's idea - just wish I had an easy way to do it in my pantry which is a converted coat closet just off of the kitchen. Would mean taking the cordless vac charger off of my garage wall and putting it out of the way.
I know I've been on commercial projects where outlets have been installed in small closets. We've even installed panels in closets which require a 20A outlet near the panel.
I like the OP's idea - just wish I had an easy way to do it in my pantry which is a converted coat closet just off of the kitchen. Would mean taking the cordless vac charger off of my garage wall and putting it out of the way.
veno
Well-known member
I built LOT's of million's of dollar houses, in the tens of thousands of Sqft.. the largest being 38,000sqft..
there were duplex plugs in the closets.. and not once were we red tagged, or told to move or re-move them....
I guess when you have a closet that is 1188sqft.. ya need a few outlets just to run the vacuum
there were duplex plugs in the closets.. and not once were we red tagged, or told to move or re-move them....
I guess when you have a closet that is 1188sqft.. ya need a few outlets just to run the vacuum
I'm surprised no one has brought up the code rule that prohibits receptacles in closets...
I'm not aware of any such rule and I have a GFCI receptacle in my bathroom closet to plug in my cordless shaver... the inspector tested the GFCI during the inspection and since it worked he signed off on it, so I don't think it is a code issue.
I have also been in numerous homes that had whole house audio systems that were ran from closets full of equipment, so clearly an inspector would have noticed.
Also, outlets are allowed in cabinets under the sink to run garbage disposals and water filtration systems as well as instant hot water units, and that area is much smaller than most closets... so I don't think there is a code issue here.
Chris Adams
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
- Messages
- 2,117
I believe the posters that are saying there is no problem putting a outlet in a closet, but our inspector here says no, you can't do that.
But then, he isn't right about much, so I think it depends on who and where you are.
But then, he isn't right about much, so I think it depends on who and where you are.
tfi racing
Well-known member
It is in the Canadian code book,I don't have my copy handy for the number,26-700ish I think.Just assumed the NEC would have a similiar rule that restricts receptacles in residential clothes closets.It is one that sometimes doesn't get enforced,but regardless of what may happen in the real world,the rule does still exist up here.
BUT.....the (NEC) Code restricts the "bathroom" receptacle circuit to ONLY the bathroom OR additional bathrooms.........
......and (depending on your location/adoption of ? code cycle)..... since its a NEW receptacle in a bedroom closet it MAY also require AFCI protection.
......and (depending on your location/adoption of ? code cycle)..... since its a NEW receptacle in a bedroom closet it MAY also require AFCI protection.
Jaguar Fan
Well-known member
I built LOT's of million's of dollar houses, in the tens of thousands of Sqft.. the largest being 38,000sqft..
there were duplex plugs in the closets.. and not once were we red tagged, or told to move or re-move them....
I guess when you have a closet that is 1188sqft.. ya need a few outlets just to run the vacuum
Wow! Everything's bigger in Texas. Do you have some pics or pointers to websites of some of your work?